Rookie Pill homers as patchwork SF Giants win

GIANTS 6, PADRES 4

Published 4:00 am, Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Photo: Denis Poroy, Getty Images

Image 1of/5

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 5

SAN DIEGO, CA - SEPTEMBER 6: Brett Pill #6 of the San Francisco Giants is congratulated by Orlando Cabrera #43 and Mark DeRosa #7 after hitting a two-run homer during the second inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on September 6, 2011 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images) less

SAN DIEGO, CA - SEPTEMBER 6: Brett Pill #6 of the San Francisco Giants is congratulated by Orlando Cabrera #43 and Mark DeRosa #7 after hitting a two-run homer during the second inning of a baseball game ... more

Photo: Denis Poroy, Getty Images

Image 2 of 5

SAN DIEGO, CA - SEPTEMBER 6: Brett Pill #6 of the San Francisco Giants hits a two-run homer during the second inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on September 6, 2011 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images) less

SAN DIEGO, CA - SEPTEMBER 6: Brett Pill #6 of the San Francisco Giants hits a two-run homer during the second inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on September 6, 2011 in San ... more

Photo: Denis Poroy, Getty Images

Image 3 of 5

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Eric Surkamp motions to catcher Chris Stewart while playing San Diego Padres in the first inning during their baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2011, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) less

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Eric Surkamp motions to catcher Chris Stewart while playing San Diego Padres in the first inning during their baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2011, in San Diego. (AP ... more

Photo: Gregory Bull, AP

Image 4 of 5

The San Francisco Giants' Justin Christian, left, missing the name on the back of his jersey, is greeted by teammates Pablo Sandoval, second from right, and Andres Torres, third from right, after scoring on a hit by Carlos Beltran against the San Diego Padres in the fifth inning during their baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2011, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) less

The San Francisco Giants' Justin Christian, left, missing the name on the back of his jersey, is greeted by teammates Pablo Sandoval, second from right, and Andres Torres, third from right, after scoring on a ... more

Photo: Gregory Bull, AP

Image 5 of 5

SAN DIEGO, CA - SEPTEMBER 6: Chris Denorfia #13 of the San Diego Padres scores ahead of the tag of Chris Stewart #37 of the San Francisco Giants during the second inning of a baseball game at Petco Park on September 6, 2011 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images) less

SAN DIEGO, CA - SEPTEMBER 6: Chris Denorfia #13 of the San Diego Padres scores ahead of the tag of Chris Stewart #37 of the San Francisco Giants during the second inning of a baseball game at Petco Park on ... more

Photo: Denis Poroy, Getty Images

Rookie Pill homers as patchwork SF Giants win

1 / 5

Back to Gallery

San Diego --

On the hot and barren fields of the Giants' minor-league spring training facility, with attendance that could be measured in the tens, first baseman Brett Pill whacked a double off pitcher Eric Surkamp in an intrasquad game in March. What a leap they made in six months.

In a 6-4 victory against the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night, Pill became the first Giant since Will Clark to homer in his first major-league at-bat and helped Surkamp earn his first major-league win.

Pill, who turns 27 on Friday, and Surkamp, 24, joined 31-year-old rookie center fielder Justin Christian in helping the Giants trim Arizona's lead in the National League West to six games.

"It's nice to see those guys come out and do what they can to help the ballclub," said manager Bruce Bochy, who declared he will use his "gut" to decide which players to use over the final 20 games. After the win, his gut told him to sit Pill for today's series finale and return Aubrey Huff and Brandon Belt to the lineup against right-hander Aaron Harang.

"I'll sit on that tonight," Bochy said. "I have a right to change my mind."

Pill not only homered in his first plate appearance, he did it on his first swing, roping an 0-1 Wade LeBlanc changeup down the left-field line. The ball cleared the fence with plenty of room to spare and hit the facing of a balcony on the Western Metal Supply Co. building.

The ball ricocheted back onto the field, where left fielder Kyle Blanks, who obviously did not read Pill's resume, chucked it into the stands. Padres employees had little trouble getting it back.

"Luckily, he threw it to some Giants fans," Pill said.

Clark homered in his first at-bat, on April 8, 1986, against Nolan Ryan, which Pill did not know until Brandon Crawford told him in the dugout. The rookie already has heard "Pill the Thrill" references, but said, "That's a big name to live up to. It sounds cool, though."

Christian contributed, too, in his first big-league game since 2008. He doubled and scored on a Carlos Beltran double. Beltran had three hits and is 11-for-15 in his past four starts.

Surkamp struggled to throw strikes and was hit hard, but he held San Diego to three runs in five innings and bought a chance to stay in the game long enough for a win by getting a double play in the fourth inning.

Surkamp's win was jeopardized when interim closer Santiago Casilla "unraveled," in Bochy's words, and lost his release point after a two-out Anthony Rizzo RBI double. Casilla hit the next two batters to load the bases. Bochy had to summon Ramon Ramirez, who struck out Jesus Guzman to end it.

Bochy insisted this was not a surrender lineup, but a reaction to Huff's bad back, Andres Torres' struggles and a Pablo Sandoval shoulder injury that affects his right-handed swing.

"By no means does this lineup have to do with where we are in the standings," he said.

Deep start

On Tuesday night, Brett Pill became the fourth S.F. Giants hitter to homer in his first major-league at-bat. The quartet:

Latest from the SFGATE homepage:

Click below for the top news from around the Bay Area and beyond. Sign up for our newsletters to be the first to learn about breaking news and more. Go to 'Sign In' and 'Manage Profile' at the top of the page.